14. Colton
“What the hell kind of game do you think you’re playing?” I growl, hours after my call with Zee because it’s taken this damn long for him to answer.
“Is that any way for a son to greet his father?”
“Leave her alone, Pops.”
“She told you.”
“Of course she did.”
“Damn,” he mutters.
Irritation flares inside me, hot and wild in its fury. “How dare you ask my fiancée to spy on me?”
“Like that, is it? Told you she was a tasty piece of ass.”
Fuse well and truly lit, I snarl, “Don’t contact her. Don’t try to see her. Don’t talk to her?—”
“She’s going to be my daughter-in-law! Of course, I’m going to see her. At Christmas and?—”
“No. You’re not welcome at the ranch anymore.”
“What?!”
“If you think I’m going to trust you anywhere near her after the last time you turned my girlfriend into one of your mistresses, you’re an idiot. Back off, Pops. I’ll make you regret it if you try anything else.”
“You can’t throw me out of my own home.”
“Watch me. I’m having Mrs. Abelman pack up your stuff. She’ll be shipping it to Saskatoon within the next few weeks.
“This is my ranch.
“Mine.
“I can do whatever the hell I want with it and invite whoever the hell I want onto it. You’re no longer welcome.”
“You little shit?—”
“I learned it from the best.”
Not letting him make a rebuttal, I disconnect the call and text her:
Me: He won’t be a problem anymore.
The trouble with Pops is that I know he can’t let shit go. Can’t help himself.
This won’t be the last we hear of him, but what I did tonight, I’ll do again.
If this marriage is going to be anything more than two one-time friends-cum-strangers being ‘donors’ for a child that neither knew they were going to share until a few days ago, then she has to know I’ll keep her safe.
That’s the least I can offer her.